PURPOSE: It is critical that evidence from research is applied to everyday nursing practice to improve the quality of care and health outcomes. Aims of this study were to review high-risk infant related studies published in major nursing and non-nursing journals in Korea and to assess the quality of intervention studies. METHODS: Through the Korean literature search engine of RISS.KR the authors identified 132 studies, and two researchers evaluated each of these studies using the analysis criteria. The quality of intervention studies was assessed using the van Tulder Scale. RESULTS: Among the studies, 40.2% were either thesis or dissertation and 86.4% were quantitative studies. Convenience sampling was the most commonly used sampling method. All experimental studies were quasi-experiment except one pre-experiment study. Sensory stimulation and kangaroo care were the most common interventions for high-risk infants. Over half of the intervention studies were assessed to be "low risk of bias" but both randomization and blinding processes were not adequately satisfied in most of the studies. CONCLUSION: Findings of this study suggest that high-risk infants are more likely to be recruited for experimental studies but types of interventions were very limited. To provide evidence-based care for high-risk infants, rigorously conducted experimental studies should be encouraged.
Humans ; Infant* ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Clinical Trial* ; Korea ; Macropodidae ; Nursing ; Random Allocation ; Search Engine

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to develop a salivation stimulation method and to verify the effect of a salivation stimulation method on xerostomia in colon cancer patients after surgery. METHODS: This study targeted 21 in the experimental group and 22 in the control group, who were diagnosed with colon cancer and underwent surgery at A university hospital. The salivation stimulation method consists of tongue movement for stimulating minor salivary glands in mouth and a parotid gland and submandibular gland massage with hands. The method was applied four times a day for 2 days the next day after surgery. RESULTS: On the first postoperative day, the experimental group showed a significantly larger amount of salivation than the control group (p=.010). On the second postoperative day, the experimental group showed a significantly larger amount of salivation than the control group (p<.001). On the first postoperative day, the subjective xerostomia scores in the experimental group and control group were not statistically significant (p=.165). On the second postoperative day, the experimental group showed a significantly lower subjective xerostomia score than the control group (p=.001). CONCLUSION: It is considered that providing cancer patients with this salivation stimulation method after surgery would reduce discomfort caused by xerostomia.
Colon* ; Colonic Neoplasms* ; Hand ; Humans ; Massage ; Methods* ; Mouth ; Parotid Gland ; Salivary Glands, Minor ; Salivation* ; Submandibular Gland ; Tongue ; Xerostomia*

BACKGROUND: External quality assessment (EQA) is important for standardizing cancer biomarker assays, thereby, ensuring accurate and precise results. Although the human epididymis-specific protein 4 (HE4) assay has been increasingly used to detect and monitor ovarian malignancy in Korea, a nation-wide EQA program for HE4 has not been appropriately established. To conduct an EQA program, a large amount of quality control (QC) materials are required. This study aimed to produce HE4 QC materials for an EQA program and evaluate their homogeneity and stability. METHODS: QC materials for three different concentrations of HE4 were produced from the collected remnant sera of 275 patients for whom the HE4 assays were performed. These materials were evaluated for homogeneity between vials and stability during storage. The frozen QC materials were distributed to 13 representative organizations for a provisional EQA. RESULTS: The total coefficient of variation of the HE4 QC materials of three concentrations was 0.75%–1.24%, and no significant differences were noted between vials; therefore, the samples were considered to be homogenous. With respect to stability, the HE4 QC materials were found to be stable till 30 days when frozen and for 24 hours when refrigerated. The results of the provisional HE4 EQA were reviewed and the survey results were reported to each participant. CONCLUSIONS: The HE4 QC materials produced from remnant specimens were found to be homogenous between vials and stable in a frozen condition until 30 days. The findings of this study may be practically applied for establishing a future HE4 EQA program.
Epididymis ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; Quality Control

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy, which has demonstrated remarkable efficacy in hematologic malignancies, is being extended to the treatment of refractory solid tumors, including brain tumors. Lymphodepletion (LD) is an essential preconditioning process that enhances CAR-T efficacy by promoting CAR-T cell expansion and persistence in the body, and has become a standard regimen for hematologic cancers. Recent clinical results of CAR-T therapy for solid tumors, including brain tumors, have shown that cyclophosphamide/fludarabine-based preconditioning has potential benefits and is gradually becoming adopted in solid tumor CAR-T trials. Furthermore, some CAR-T trials for solid tumors are attempting to develop LD regimens optimized specifically for solid tumors, distinct from the standard LD regimens used in hematologic cancers. In contrast, CAR-T therapy targeting brain tumors frequently employs locoregionally repeated administration in tumors or cerebrospinal fluid, resulting in less frequent use of LD compared to other solid tumors. Nevertheless, several clinical studies suggest that LD may still provide potential benefits for CAR-T expansion and improvement in clinical responses in systemic CAR-T administration. The studies presented in this review suggest that while LD can be beneficial for enhancing CAR-T efficacy, considerations must be made regarding its compatibility with the CAR-T administration route, potential excessive activation based on CAR-T structural characteristics, and target expression in normal organs. Additionally, given the unique characteristics of brain tumors, optimized selection of LD agents, as well as dosing and regimens, may be required, highlighting the need for further research.

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy, which has demonstrated remarkable efficacy in hematologic malignancies, is being extended to the treatment of refractory solid tumors, including brain tumors. Lymphodepletion (LD) is an essential preconditioning process that enhances CAR-T efficacy by promoting CAR-T cell expansion and persistence in the body, and has become a standard regimen for hematologic cancers. Recent clinical results of CAR-T therapy for solid tumors, including brain tumors, have shown that cyclophosphamide/fludarabine-based preconditioning has potential benefits and is gradually becoming adopted in solid tumor CAR-T trials. Furthermore, some CAR-T trials for solid tumors are attempting to develop LD regimens optimized specifically for solid tumors, distinct from the standard LD regimens used in hematologic cancers. In contrast, CAR-T therapy targeting brain tumors frequently employs locoregionally repeated administration in tumors or cerebrospinal fluid, resulting in less frequent use of LD compared to other solid tumors. Nevertheless, several clinical studies suggest that LD may still provide potential benefits for CAR-T expansion and improvement in clinical responses in systemic CAR-T administration. The studies presented in this review suggest that while LD can be beneficial for enhancing CAR-T efficacy, considerations must be made regarding its compatibility with the CAR-T administration route, potential excessive activation based on CAR-T structural characteristics, and target expression in normal organs. Additionally, given the unique characteristics of brain tumors, optimized selection of LD agents, as well as dosing and regimens, may be required, highlighting the need for further research.

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy, which has demonstrated remarkable efficacy in hematologic malignancies, is being extended to the treatment of refractory solid tumors, including brain tumors. Lymphodepletion (LD) is an essential preconditioning process that enhances CAR-T efficacy by promoting CAR-T cell expansion and persistence in the body, and has become a standard regimen for hematologic cancers. Recent clinical results of CAR-T therapy for solid tumors, including brain tumors, have shown that cyclophosphamide/fludarabine-based preconditioning has potential benefits and is gradually becoming adopted in solid tumor CAR-T trials. Furthermore, some CAR-T trials for solid tumors are attempting to develop LD regimens optimized specifically for solid tumors, distinct from the standard LD regimens used in hematologic cancers. In contrast, CAR-T therapy targeting brain tumors frequently employs locoregionally repeated administration in tumors or cerebrospinal fluid, resulting in less frequent use of LD compared to other solid tumors. Nevertheless, several clinical studies suggest that LD may still provide potential benefits for CAR-T expansion and improvement in clinical responses in systemic CAR-T administration. The studies presented in this review suggest that while LD can be beneficial for enhancing CAR-T efficacy, considerations must be made regarding its compatibility with the CAR-T administration route, potential excessive activation based on CAR-T structural characteristics, and target expression in normal organs. Additionally, given the unique characteristics of brain tumors, optimized selection of LD agents, as well as dosing and regimens, may be required, highlighting the need for further research.

Purpose: This study aimed to compare the effects of oral swab and non-swab using cold water gauze on patients’ thirst and oral status following nasal surgery under general anesthesia. Methods: A non-equivalent control group was applied. Participants were divided into a control group (n=30) that was treated by cared for with cold water gauze application without oral swab and an experimental group (n=29) that was treated cared for with oral swab using cold water gauze after nasal surgery at the G University Hospital in Korea. Data were collected from May 14, 2020, to April 30, 2021, and analyzed using descriptive statistics, a chi-squared test, independent t-test, Wilcoxon signed-ranks test, and Mann-Whitney test. Results: The results showed no significant differences between the two groups in thirst (U=-0.04, p=.693) and overall oral condition (U=-0.34, p=.813) after the intervention. However, participants’ thirst and oral condition were significantly improved in each group after intervention. Conclusions It was confirmed that both oral care methods reduced thirst and improved oral condition after nasal surgery. These findings indicate the need for intervention for patients’ thirst and oral condition after nasal surgery. Furthermore, they show that these oral care protocols can be used as a safe and effective nursing intervention for patients who undergo nasal surgery under general anesthesia.

Angiodysplasia has been recognized as an important cause of lower gastrointestinal bleeding, but it is difficult to confirm the lesions. Angiodysplasia in the small bowel could be the most probable cause of bleeding particularly in the elderly patients when usual methods fail to document the focus. Small bowel angiodysplasias have been diagnosed by angiography and/or surgery at the sites where usual endoscope could not reach, and treated by medical therapy, angiographic embolization or surgery. We experienced a case of a bleeding angiodysplasia in the terminal ileum in a 51-year-old man who was taking anti-platelet agents. The lesion was diagnosed by colonoscopy, and bleeding was easily controlled with hemoclipping.
Aged ; Angiodysplasia* ; Angiography ; Colonoscopy ; Endoscopes ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Ileum* ; Middle Aged

Anatomy is knowledge about structure and function of human body. However, with on medical course the vast amount of content, many students have difficulties and burdens about anatomy. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of bingo game to improve understanding and learning effect of anatomy. This study was carried out in September, 2018, at 53 medical students. After conducting the bingo, the students were asked about the usefulness, grade reflection, concern, continuation, necessity, appropriate time and interest of bingo. And the relationship between bingo results and grades was also investigated. A total of seven bingo games were with an average of 3.6 bingo (0-11). There was a positive response to the usefulness (3.74 ± 0.92), interest (3.94 ± 0.82), continuation (3.55 ± 1.10), necessity (3.51 ± 1.01), and concern (3.72 ± 1.01) of bingo. However, the appropriateness of the time was neutral (3.26 ± 1.02), and there were negative opinions about grade reflection of bingo (1.40 ± 0.86). The grade of anatomy subject showed a positive correlation with the results of the bingo, but did not reach statistical significance (r = 207, p = 0.088). In addition to anatomy, histology, microbiology, and pharmacology were also considered to be useful educational methods for bingo. Bingo may be useful in medical school curriculum, especially in Anatomy. More research is needed to improve learning efficiency through bingo.